Thankfulness

 “Thankfulness to God is a recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has provided for us and cared for us, both physically and spiritually.  It is a recognition that we are totally dependent upon Him; that all that we are and have comes from God.” — Jerry Bridges 

For the past month, every Sunday, I share on FB what I’m thankful for the previous week in pictures. Gratitude starts with me and my heart’s posture towards God. As Christians, we have so much to be thankful for. May we remember it all year long. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Marriage Rocks

 I lost my wedding band the other day. I must confess it was weird not proclaiming the truth of my marriage by this symbol. As this ring is a complete circle...it reminds me my marriage takes no breaks, it is to last, and I should strive for purity. 

Marriage rocks.

-Joe

Dehydration

If a person is on the journey of faith for any period of time, you will know that there are ups and downs. One of the things to notice is that when you feel thirsty on a hike, you need to drink water, when your thirsty you are headed to the point of dehydration and maybe even exhaustion.

So when you only pray when you feel desperate, you are most likely suffering from some sort of spiritual dehydration or even exhaustion.

Why is this possible? Because the necessary means of abiding or remaining in Christ are not present in your life or your motives are impure. You see if we look at as spiritual boxes to check, that’s all it is, a sense of duty but that’s not enjoyable. It becomes another addition to the never-ending list that you already have.

May we drink from the fountain and eat from the source so that we will always be satisfied with what truly keeps us satisfied.

-Joe

October Book Stack 📚

 New book stack! 

1️⃣ Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster

2️⃣ Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren 

3️⃣ Emptied by Wynter and Jonathan Pitts

4️⃣ Letters to Pastors’ Wives exited by Catherine J. Stewart

5️⃣ Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn 

What are you reading right now?

He is faithful

 πιστός

faith·ful

/ˈfāTHfəl/

loyal, constant, and steadfast

God is faithful. 

He’s faithful in your affliction. 

He’s faithful in your weariness. 

He’s faithful in your mundane. 

He’s faithful in your joy. 

He’s faithful in your loneliness. 

He’s faithful in your confusion. 

He’s faithful in your waiting. 

He’s faithful in your anxiety. 

He’s faithful in the ordinary. 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 

-Hebrews 10:23

God is faithful. He never fails. #preachingtomyself

Decorating

 “A man who has a layover at an airport does not go into the bathroom, frown at its decor, and start redecorating! Why? Because he doesn’t live there. He has a home in another place. While he is away he will get by with only what he absolutely needs, to have more money with which to furnish his permanent home.”

—Michael P. Green

I don’t know about you, but my soul longs for Heaven. Where there won’t be anymore pain or suffering. To combat this sometimes I try to make this side of Heaven more comfortable. I’m decorating airport bathrooms. 🥴 This world is not my home. One day I will receive my inheritance. “...An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” - 1 Peter 1:4-5

Fair Trade Friday September Box

 This month’s Fair Trade Friday box was un-🐝-lievable! The theme for September’s box was Bee Kind. It included:

1️⃣ Honeycomb Soap Bar made refugees resettled in Houston, Texas. I love the honeycomb design on the top of the soap! K says it smells like an oatmeal cookie! 

2️⃣ Ceramic Beehive Soap Dish made by Prodigal Pottery in Birmingham, Alabama. They offer employment to wen who are fleeing homelessness, domestic abuse, and sex-trafficking. The soap dish has a honeycomb design complete with little bee 🐝 imprints! 

3️⃣ Raw Honey Sampler made by Hon’s Honey in Baltimore, Maryland. They offer dignified work to women at risk of addiction, abuse, poverty, sex-trafficking, and prostitution. 🍯 

4️⃣ Wooden Honey Dipper made by Ethikos Home in Thailand. Artisans rely on orders like this one to earn enough to sustain their families. Creating these honey dippers provided 33 people with 937 hours of dignified work.

5️⃣ Gold Hexagon Earrings made by Starfish Project in Eastern Asia. They help provide exploited women in Eastern Asia with the opportunity to experience freedom, establish independence, and develop careers. Purchases of Starfish Project help provide employment, safe housing, counseling, vocational training, and educational opportunities. This order of earrings created 311 hours of work for 18 employees. 

6️⃣Gratitude Bracelet made by Mercy House Global in Kenya. Started in 2010, Mercy House started with a dream to help pregnant teen moms in Nairobi, Kenya. Now, Mercy House fully funds 3 maternity homes in Kenya funded by generous families who believe in their mission. 

What’s your favorite item?